Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi on Tuesday said that the process had begun to withdraw cases against those accused in the Tikapur carnage.

Speaking at the Legislature-Parliament, Nidhi said discussions were being held to withdraw the cases without breaching the constitutional and legal provisions.

“The Home Ministry and the Law Ministry have initiated deliberations with other stakeholders to withdraw cases of those involved in the Tikapur incident,” Nidhi said during the special time provided to him by Speaker Onasari Gharti.

Nidhi said there was intense pressure from the agitating forces to withdraw the cases in which the Madhesi and Janajati community members were involved.

On August 24 last year, people from the Tharuhat Struggle Committee, which had launched a stern protest against the constitution that would be promulgated in September, mounted an attack on security personnel in Tikapur of Kailali district.

The protesters had attacked the security personnel with axes and spears killing seven police officers and a two-year-old baby. An officer was also burned alive by the agitators.

Nidhi informed Parliament about providing Rs1 million to families of each of the 52 people killed during the protests launched by the Tharu and Muslim communities, among others.

All of them were also declared martyrs. He added that the medical expenses of all those injured during the Madhes agitation were borne by the government.

A seven-member committee led by former justice Girish Chandra Lal will study the loss of property during the Tarai protests.